UruguayReadytoConsiderAsylumforSnowden–FirstLady

Uruguay’s first lady, Senator Lucia Topolansky, said Monday that her country would consider giving asylum to fugitive former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

BUENOS AIRES, July 8 (RIA Novosti) – Uruguay’s first lady, Senator Lucia Topolansky, said Monday that her country would consider giving asylum to fugitive former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

“This issue should be considered, once a request is filed,” Topolansky said. “Uruguay has traditionally been a country that grants asylum. I think that every country is free to shelter whomever it wants.

“Every country has its own rules and makes its own decisions, and no one is allowed to interfere with the sovereignty of other nations,” she added.

Snowden, who is wanted by the United States for leaking details of a top-secret surveillance program that allegedly targeted millions of Americans, has submitted asylum requests to more than 20 countries.

Most of those requests have been rejected, or the countries have said that the former National Security Agency contractor must be present on their soil to submit such an application.

However, top officials in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia said over the weekend that their countries were willing to grant asylum to Snowden.